Month: July 2011

>The creation of the Office of Asset Recovery. 

Bergen County Executive Kathleen A. Donovan today announced the creation of the Office of Asset Recovery. During last year’s campaign Ms. Donovan pledged to establish such an office “…to review fees paid to consultants and other vendors, investigate questionable payments and sue to collect moneys improperly paid by the County or any of its agencies.”

According to Ms. Donovan, “last year we pledged to reduce the cost to taxpayers by freezing County government spending, stopping governmental waste and recovering as much money as possible through a new, dedicated, office.  Today’s announcement fulfills yet another commitment.  We cut spending by $30 million in the proposed budget we inherited; we have cut waste in all areas including the elimination and sale of over 50 employee operated County cars and we have now created the Office of Asset Recovery.”

Ms. Donovan said that the new Office will function within the County’s Department of Law and will be self-sustaining.  She said that while the Office will seek civil remedies “any criminal activity uncovered during our ongoing reviews will be immediately referred to local, state or federal authorities for criminal prosecution.”

“This is not a witch hunt,” Ms. Donovan said.  “But it is clear to anyone who has followed County government spending practices that there have been excessive and sometimes redundant costs.”

She continued, “We plan to review and question construction costs, particularly change orders, which have driven costs beyond acceptable levels.  And we plan to assess every purchase to make certain that the County got the full bang for its buck.”

Ms. Donovan concluded, “Not all government waste is the product of fraud and misconduct.  Vendors and consultants make billing errors just like everyone else.  While rooting out official misconduct, our Office of Asset Recovery will also welcome information regarding unintentional billing errors and work with the private interests involved to resolve those mistakes.”

 

>Ridgewood Water Meter Reading

It is important that Ridgewood Water has an accurate reading of your water meter to ensure that your account properly reflects the amount of water actually used. Please call Ridgewood Water Customer Service at 201-670-5520 to make an appointment for a Ridgewood Water Representative to read your meter.

To record the meter reading yourself Click Here https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/water/CustomerReadInstructions.pdf

>Try-outs for the Ridgewood YMCA Breakers competitive swim team are announced

The Ridgewood YMCA Breakers competitive swim team will be holding try-outs on August 1st, 3rd and 5th and September 6th, 8th and 9th at the Ridgewood YMCA Oak Street branch.

Pre-registration is not required and swimmers may register on their day of their try-out. There is a $10 registration fee for try-outs. YMCA membership is not required to try-out; however swimmers invited to join the Breakers swim team must become Ridgewood YMCA members.

Registration will open at 4pm on try-out days and try-outs will take place from 4:30 to 6:30pm.

The August try-out dates are open to all swimmers ages 6 and up. The September 6 date is reserved for swimmers aged 9-12, September 8 for swimmers aged 8 and under and September 9 will be for swimmers aged 13 and over and make ups.

The swimmer’s age for try-out is based upon the age of the swimmer on December 1, 2011.

A full schedule is available at www.ridgewoodymca.org/try-outs

The Breakers Swim Team encompasses all ability levels, providing youth the opportunity to acquire the skills, self-discipline, confidence and physical conditioning to become the best swimmers they can be.

For additional details, please contact YMCA Swim Team Coach, Bud Rimbault at 201.444.5600 ext 319 or email brimbault@ridgewoodymca.org